Page 47 of Isabella

“Is this really how we’re going to end things right now?”

“This is how we’re ending things permanently, Niccolò.”

I give a low, dark chuckle, not one that holds any humor but one that holds the desperation of a man who’s about to go insane over his woman. “If you think we’re anything close to being done after that, you have another thing coming. You can go back out to Massimo, but just remember who you really belong to.”

A fire lights behind her eyes, giving me the satisfaction I wanted. Giving me the reassurance I needed. Nothing will ever be done between Isabella and me.

Just as quick as the fire started, it sizzles out, and she hardens her glare on me. She stays mute and simply slides her gaze down to my hand on her wrist once more before looking back at me with a raised brow.

Another knock comes through. “Hello? Do I need to get someone that works here?”

I reluctantly release my hold on Isabella, and she gives me the smallest smirk, as if she’s won, before walking toward the door. I turn around, letting my eyes track her movements.

She unlocks the door, but before she pulls it open, she glances at me one last time with a look I don’t think I’ll ever forget and says, “You might’ve still had my body in that moment, Niccolò, but you’ll never have my heart again. I promise you that.”

With no hesitation, she pulls the door open and exits, leaving me confused and speechless.

29

ISABELLA

Itake a deep breath and run my hand through my hair as I make my way back to the dinner table, hoping I don’t look as frazzled as I feel.

I put everything into keeping my reaction subdued to what happened between Nicco and me in the bathroom, but as I walk away from him, the emotions take over my body, causing my fingers to jitter and my heart to feel like it’s about to jump out of my chest.

The look in his eyes when I told him he’d never have my heart again is a look I would’ve loved to witness years ago. But now with everything that’s come out—my dad never had a prospective wife for me. It was all a lie—the heartless words from me don’t have the same effect. He looked as if I was taking away his sole purpose in life, and that doesn’t sit well with me.

Sliding into my seat, I quickly take a sip from my wineglass before setting it back down, nearly toppling it over with my shaky hands. I finally bring my gaze to Massimo’s, whose brows are furrowed as he watches me from across the table.

“Are you okay, Izzy?” he asks before glancing over his shoulder as if he knows something—or someone—rattled me in the bathroom and he’s seeking the source.

“Yeah, sorry, I guess I’m a little more hungry than I thought. Just feeling a little shaky is all.”

He gives me a small smile and says, “That’s not the reaction of a hungry woman.”

Ignoring that comment, I open the menu, hoping to change the topic, and say, “Did you decide what you want to eat?”

Looking over the entreés, I can’t seem to focus. A hand reaches over and presses down on my menu, grabbing my attention. I snap my gaze to Massimo, forgetting I had asked him a question and not knowing if he answered me or not.

His eyebrows are already drawn together, and he tilts his head, pinning me in place with his gaze. “Izzy, are you sure you’re okay?”

“I… I’m fine.”

Shit. Even I know that wasn’t convincing.

Massimo takes his hand off my menu, sits back, and narrows his gaze on mine. “Something happened in the bathroom.”

How does he know that?

“I just want to make sure you’re all right, because right now you’re acting like something rattled the hell out of you.”

“Yeah, I’m totally fine,” I state, but my voice, an octave higher than its normal tone, gives me away.

Massimo leans forward, setting his arms on the table to get closer. He lowers his voice as if he’s trying to keep what he’s about to say out of anyone else’s earshot. “Was someone in the bathroom that you didn’t expect to see?”

“How do you know that?” The question comes out before I can stop it.

Massimo raises his eyebrow as he sits back in his chair and sets his hands on his lap. “I’m assuming this has something to do with Niccolò?”

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